NAVI MUMBAI | May 19, 2016: Farmers in Dharamtar creek area have alleged illegal sand dredging operations are turning their land barren. These sand dredgers pump out salt water, after filtering the sand, into farms, using suctions machines during the night.

Around 750 acres of land have already turned barren on Vadkhal side and approximately 850 acres of farm land in eight villages at Alibaug have also been affected.

Farmers in Alibaug had organized a protest, under the banner of Dharak Shetkari Sangh, last month but no action was taken, they alleged.

"We were assured of action by officials last month, after we went on a hunger strike on April 25 and 26 but the situation is same," said Raja Keni, Dharak Shetkari Sangh leader, who is leading the protest.

But Alibaug tehsildar Prakash Sankpal said that they have been conducting a joint operation with maritime board, revenue officers, tehsildar, sub-divisional officer collectorate and other against illegal sand mining since February.

"Illegal sand dredging is going on. A squad has been deployed at Dharamtar to check the sand dredging activity. But it is yet to be proven that farm land is being destroyed due to sea water," said Alibaug tehsildar Prakash Sankpal.

He pointed out that they had seized dredging equipment worth Rs 21 lakh from Alibaug.

"We do not have sophisticated boats to check the activity," said Poynad assistant inspector R N Raje.

(Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)